Recs.
Updated
Vivaldi is a Chromium based browser with its UI written with web technologies (HTML/JS). Vivaldi advertises itself as a "power-user browser" as it tries to bring features built-in reducing the number of extensions needed.
Vivaldi was founded by Jón S. von Tetzchner, creator of Opera browser and its CEO until before the switch to Chromium.
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Custom search engines
You can add as many search engines as you like. For example you can set up one for YouTube, one for Wikipedia, or whatever you want: you need only the URL of the search and it can be used from the URL bar (by prefixing it's nickname, yt
for YouTube for example).
Pro Built-in ad and tracker blocker
Vivaldi has a built-in blocker that allows you to select between blocking just trackers or both trackers and ads. With customizable blocking list sources, good performance, and support for all the standard blocker list features you find in ad blocker extensions (with more to come), you might not need an ad blocker extension at all.
This also comes in handy on Android, where Chromium/Vivaldi doesn't support extensions.
Pro Customizable UI
Since Vivaldi uses JavaScript, React, Node.js, Browserify and multiple npm packages to build the browser, it can be customized with ease by anyone who knows HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Vivaldi can change the colors across the browser and has the option to change the color automatically depending on the page. Also, page loading animations are available in the address bar.
Pro Tab behaviour can be customised
The order you toggle, open, close or clone tabs can be modified to match a workflow that best works for you. For example you can choose tabs to toggle in recent order so you can go back and forth between the last most useful tabs without needing to change their position on the tab bar.
Pro Allows navigating to the next page without searching for the link
A feature called fast forward puts a dedicated button before the address bar that is designed to help you navigate to the next page of a multi-page article, forum thread or search results without having to hunt for the link.
Pro Updates via dialog box
Unlike most modern browsers (but like most browsers of yesteryear), Vivaldi gives you a dialog box when an new version comes out; it doesn't just update silently in the background. The dialog box tells you about the changes that have been made, and lets you chose when you want to update.
Cons
Con No silent background updates
Unlike most modern browsers, Vivaldi doesn't have the option to update silently in the background. It gives you a dialog box when an update comes out. Worse, the box doesn't warn you that not updating the browser could lead to security risks. That could be pretty bad for your average joe, who doesn't know computers that well.
Con Comes with many Ads
After installation the first thing you have to do is to remove all the default bookmarks and quickdial links which is really annoying. There is more minor stuff like the default search provider or your start page things that could be easily managed with a wizard at the first startup.
Con Advertisements in the bookmarks
By default: Vivaldi has a number of websites (such as Amazon) already bookmarked. New bookmarks may be added to the speed-dial when the browser updates. These bookmarks can be deleted, same as any other bookmark, but that will not stop new bookmarks form being added.
Con No option to force links to open in new tabs
Similar to other browsers, there's no option for forcing all links to open in new tabs.
Con Can't disable all telemetry
Vivaldi needs some amount of knowledge about the amount of active users, for business deals.
According to its privacy policy, Vivaldi sends an approximate location (country or major city), randomized ID, version, CPU architecture, screen resolution (to know what screen sizes to test on) and time since last message every 24 hours (to know amount of active users).
Con Not completely opensource, proprietary UI
While Vivaldi is currently available gratis (without monetary charge), it is currently not fully libre (meaning that it does not allow users to view the source code used to create, to modify that code, or to redistribute modifications) and is therefore neither free nor open-source software.
The C++ source code however is open-source under a BSD license and can be downloaded and browsed from here.
The UI code though is not open-source, but it's easily readable as it's HTML, CSS & JS. Modifications can be shared as their forum even has a dedicated section.
Con Partially proprietary
While Vivaldi is currently available gratis (without monetary charge), it is currently not fully libre (meaning that it does not allow users to view the source code used to create, to modify that code, or to redistribute modifications).
It is therefore not considered free or open-source software.
The C++ source code, for the Chromium backedn, however is open-source under a BSD license and can be downloaded and browsed from here.
The UI code is not open-source, but consists of easily readable HTML, CSS & JS. Modifications can be shared on their forum's dedicated section.
Con No option to open saved tab stack as... tab stack!
You may save stack, but you can open it as separate tabs. Interesting that when you save session with stacks, you'll be able to open the stacks with inner settings of page tiling (size and zoom) as well. Contradiction worth of shame.
Recommendations
Comments
Flagged Pros + Cons
Pro Manages bookmarks well
Vivaldi has an excellent bookmarks system. Bookmarks can be easily accessible via Speed Dial, side-bar, bookmarks bar, quick commands. No more messy bookmarks bar is needed and location bar suggestion is improved thus!
Pro Compatible with all Chrome extensions
Since Vivaldi is built on Chromium, the same base as Chrome (among other browsers) is built on, it was possible for Vivaldi developers to allow Chrome extensions to run in their browser.
Con Some non-optional telemetry
According to its privacy policy, Vivaldi sends an approximate location (country or major city), randomized ID, version, CPU architecture, screen resolution (to know what screen sizes to test on) and time since last message every 24 hours (to know amount of active users).
Pro Saving sessions
It saves oversights many options and functions implemented in Vivaldi. E.g. see CON "No option to open saved tab stack as... tab stack!"
Con Not available on the iPhone
There is an Android version Vivaldi, but no iOS version. iPhone and iPad users are out of luck.
Pro Cross browser extensions with Opera and Chrome, Firefox web-ext's too
All Vivaldi, Opera and Chrome users can get extensions from all extension/addon sites, especially from Opera Addons and Chrome Store.
Pro The UI can be customized with ease
Since Vivaldi uses JavaScript, React, Node.js, Browserify and multiple npm packages to build the browser, it can be customized with ease by anyone who knows HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.